When You Don't Get What You Want

Recently, a grant that promised a chance to secure up to $30,000 for budding Ontario companies decided to close its application intake before its originally posted deadline. This meant that companies who worked to be able to submit their applications for the original deadline would not have a chance at any of the $30,000.

I worked on one of these grants, then found out that I would not be able to submit it. On behalf of our client, I had gathered information and wrote an application for $15,000 to cover marketing costs for their Ontario winery. This work did not come to fruition and neither my client nor myself received a penny.

Although disappointed that I had worked on a project that was unsuccessful, not everything about this experience was negative. I had gathered tons of information on my client, which will save me time in the future if I prepare another application on their behalf. Not only do I now have this helpful information on hand, but due to the grant's requirements, have it organized in a way that will save me time if I ever need to access it. Many funding programs require company and team descriptions, which I now have and can find at a moment's notice. Through my  communication with the wine company, I learned more about their innovative products as well as the utilization of ancient wine-making techniques to make the most of the Niagara climate. Though I performed work that would not provide any immediate financial reward, I did gather information that would make the next grant easier to write and had an enjoyable time doing it.   

The grant program's decision to halt applications was a shock and a disappointment; however, I was able to secure information that will help me to write another grant for my client when the time comes. I am not happy that I did not get what I wanted, but sometimes even when there is no doubt that the glass is half empty, it still feels better to see it half full.